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Imagery available: Coast Guard medevacs man near Westport, Wash.

April 1, 2015

Coast Guardsmen from Air Station Astoria, Oregon, and Station Grays Harbor, in Westport, Washington, medevac a man from a charter vessel approximately 12 miles from Westport, April 1, 2015. The vessel operator contacted the Coast Guard and reported having a man aboard suffering from a possible heart attack. U.S. Coast Guard video courtesy of Air Station Astoria.

WARRENTON, Ore. — Coast Guard air and small-boat crews medevaced a man experiencing the symptoms of a possible heart attack about 12 miles northwest of Westport, Washington, Wednesday morning.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria, Oregon, safely hoisted the man and transported him to Columbia Memorial Hospital at 11:25 a.m.

The operator of the charter vessel Tequila Too contacted Coast Guard Sector Columbia River, in Warrenton, at about 9:30 a.m., reporting a 53-year-old passenger was having a medical emergency. After consultation with the duty flight surgeon, watchstanders directed the launch of the Warrenton-based aircrew and a small-boat crew aboard a 47-foot Motor Life Boat from Station Grays Harbor in Westport.

After arriving on scene with the charter vessel, two EMT-qualified MLB crewmembers went aboard to provide medical assistance. The aircrew safely hoisted the man aboard the Jayhawk at about 10:40 a.m. Based on the man’s condition, the aircrew landed on the field adjacent to the hospital and transferred him to the emergency room for further treatment.

“Initially we were planning on transporting the man to Oregon Health and Science University Hospital in Portland," said Lt. Christopher Morris, operations unit at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River. "Based on his condition, the aircrew made the decision to get him to an appropriate level of care as fast as possible."

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